A new Hillary demographic: Europe’s center right

PHILADELPHIA — The prospect of a Donald Trump presidency and the new look of the Republican party he now leads is causing some center-right European parties to rethink their political allegiances.

The shift was evident in the stark contrast in attendance by European politicians at the Democratic convention here in Philadelphia and those who went to the Republican gathering last week: In Cleveland only former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders and a few members of the European Conservatives and Reformists group could be found. In Philadelphia, there were representatives from a range of political groups, including center-right politicians who typically would have been more at home at a Republican convention.

An opinion sampling of those politicians — from parties normally at each other throats in Brussels, from the Greens to the center-right Christian Democrats — found overwhelming support for Hillary Clinton to be the next president of the United States.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters Thursday in Berlin it was a “clear ‘no'” when asked if the prospect of a Trump presidency is giving her nightmares, but the feeling isn’t shared by ministers and MPs here in Philadelphia.

De Croo shares a general distaste here in Philadelphia for the tone of presidential debate, with many expecting the tone to get more negative in the run-up to November’s election. “It’s the first time voters are voting in favor of someone because they are against the other one. I am in the same position,” said De Croo.

“My party normally goes to the Republican conference but this year we decided ‘no,’” said Esther de Lange, a Dutch MEP from the center-right Christian Democratic Appeal party (CDA).

De Lange’s Dutch compatriot, and political opponent, Hans van Baalen, president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party, said he used to support Ronald Reagan and John McCain over Democrats, but no longer. “The Republican Party has become a hostage of the Tea Party and the religious right,” van Baalen said. “The GOP is no longer the Grand Old Party of the past.”

Socialist MEPs found their allegiances split between Hillary Clinton and her rival for the Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders.

Van Baalen added, “The populist right in Europe — [Marine] Le Pen, Wilders, [the Alternative for Germany], UKIP — see Trump as an ally. For the mainstream European parties there is not much to choose.”

Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, a conservative liberal, told an event hosted by the German Friedrich Naumann Foundation that he was in Philadelphia to support those who want to fight populism and cooperate internationally.

Antonio López-Istúriz White, a Spanish center-right MEP born to an American mother, said populism was the main reason Europeans are breaking from the Republicans.

“This year was absolutely different from the previous 11 years of visits,” López-Istúriz White said of his regular political study trips to the United States. “I have found a very different atmosphere. Scary. I meet always with reasonable centrist politicians on both sides of the aisle. They’re all scared to death about what is going on the right of the Republican party and also the left of the Democratic party.”

On the left-wing of European politics, figures from Federica Mogherini down have been in Philadelphia throwing their weight against Trump. Socialist MEPs found their allegiances split between Hillary Clinton and her rival for the Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders. Some, such as Danish MEP Jeppe Kofod, are taking an active role in the U.S. campaign by supporting local pro-Clinton groups, in Kofod’s case the ‘Danes for Hillary‘ movement.

Gianni Pittella, leader of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, and Brando Benifei, a fellow Socialist and one of the youngest MEPs, were among those hoping to “Feel the Bern” in Philadelphia. Pittella even asked for a fan pic with Sanders, but by the end of the week urged Americans not to fall for Trump: “Europe needs the U.S. We need Hillary Clinton,” he told the International Leadership Forum in Philadelphia.

Kovács did however stress that he isn’t scared of a Clinton presidency, and praised the use of symbolism and soaring oratory at the convention. “Since Philadelphia is the birthplace of democracy and the birthplace of the country, it was an intended narrative and symbolism for them to bring the convention here,” Kovács said.

Compared to his schedule of multiple speaking engagements at the Republican convention, leading Brexit campaigner Lord Callanan, formerly Martin Callanan MEP, was a different man this week. Callanan sat quietly in the suite level of the Democratic convention and was visibly unmoved by the speeches of Michelle Obama and other Democrats, as others clapped, cheered and rose to their feet around him.

“I’d prefer a third term for Obama” — Green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer

Away from the fray in Philadelphia, European politicians are lining up to support Clinton. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said he supports “a female candidate,” and his chief-of-staff Martin Selmayr has tweeted his horror at the thought of Donald Trump joining other populist leaders at G7 summits.

The speakers who left the biggest impression on European politicians here are Michelle and Barack Obama, in that order. Many expressed wonder at the poetry from the convention stage. Slovenian Socialist MEP Tanja Fajon was the first of many to tell POLITICO that her favorite moment was Michelle Obama saying “I wake up every morning in my house that was built by slaves,” while Van Baalen, the Dutch MEP, credits her with “saving the first day of the convention” after pro-Sanders protests threatened to derail it.

Not everyone was thrilled with either of the choices facing American voters this fall. Asked whether he had supported Clinton or Sanders during the primary campaign, Green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer said: “I’d prefer a third term for Obama.”

FierEuropeen

That is not that I am a fan of Hillary, but for not see the nightmare of Trump, completely unfit to the task, became president of the US, and thus became a menace to the world, I would rather vote on a chimp.
This guy would easily start a nuclear war on a bad hair day.

Posted on 7/29/16 | 1:24 AM CET

Donnie McGean

Europe’s center right is equivalent to our center left. In other words the center right in Europe were Democrats all along. Proof is that they all wanted Obama who is about as left as they come.

Posted on 7/29/16 | 3:18 AM CET

pete

new Hillary demographic: Europe’s center right???was this poll after the invasion?

Posted on 7/29/16 | 3:41 AM CET

dennisa

It is amazing how the lies from Hillary are forgotten. Benghazi, e-mails etc. This is a wishful thinking article, with the demonisation of Trump in the media. Clinton will be a disaster for the US, the Clinton succession must not take place. Obama’s coronation and presidency has been dominated by Clintonistas and an extended Democrat White House is a worrying prospect, not just for the US, but the world.

Posted on 7/29/16 | 8:41 AM CET

ColinM

There is an old joke about explaining UK politics to an American – there is the Labour party which is the equivalent of your Democrats and there is the Conservative party which is the equivalent of your, er, Democrats. So no change really.

Posted on 7/29/16 | 10:36 AM CET

This Article is Ridiculous

I wonder what the basis of this article is. It certainly can’t be European self-interest. Consider this. Through their foundation, Clinton and her husband have received millions, indeed tens of millions, in contributions and donations (some would say bribes) from certain Middle Eastern countries (notably Saudi). Some would say that the Clintons are beholden to their Saudi benefactor. Now If Clinton were to win in November and her policy towards say the Syrian conflict tilted even further towards some Saudi paradigm or wet dream therein, well, what do you think that would mean for Europe? I’ll tell you what. Germany better start preparing another five million beds and quickly. Lol.

Posted on 8/1/16 | 1:32 AM CET

Maria

Famous Clinton deal: Uranium One

Indecent exposure (one of them): “We came, we saw, he died. Ha-ha.”

I have seen the leaked e-mails on Syria. The Obama administration with Hillary Clinton as secretary of state has wrought chaos in Libya and in the Middle East and Europe is already starting to pay the price for their lack of common sense. If Russia had not stepped into Syria, there would be no end in sight of the war. And to think that Obama received the Nobel Peace prize! For what? His skin tone?

In one of the interviews Clinton also said that Russia is rich in natural resources but wants to keep everything for itself. Can’t find that video now, but I was appalled by her statement. Just who does Clinton think she is? This is not the America Europeans recognize or want anymore.

And just look at the behaviour of her party officials in regard to Sanders campaign!

Clinton stops at nothing to satisfy her ego. Such people should never become No. 1 in any country.
Melania in the buff is incomparably more decent than Clinton in her $12,000 Armani jacket pulling the wool over the eyes of American women.

Posted on 8/1/16 | 8:02 AM CET

Maria

@FierEuropeen

<<<<<This guy would easily start a nuclear war on a bad hair day.<<<<<<

I'm pretty sure Trump would not have gotten where he is, had he allowed himself to make decisions based on bad hair days. He only talks loud. He does not accept money from the Saudis, either … Can a person who disregards state security rules be trusted to command an army?

Posted on 8/1/16 | 2:33 PM CET

PSzG

There are nearly no right wing parties in Europe. That’s the only visible thing here…